Thermometer with electric generator

ABSTRACT

A thermometer includes a body member and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member. A thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member is adapted for sensing a thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal. A set of lead wires is coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission of the temperature signal. A display module is disposed in the body member. A processor is electrically connected to the set of lead wires to receive the temperature signal for display of a corresponding temperature reading. An electric generator having a motor with a rotary shaft is disposed in the body member. The motor is driven for generating electric energy when the rotary shaft is rotated. A capacitor is electrically connected to the electric generator for storing the electric energy generated by the electric generator and supplying the electric energy to the processor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of thermometers, and moreparticularly to the field of compact motion powered thermometers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic thermometers generally offer a great number of advantagesover conventional glass and mercury thermometers for use in the healthcare field. Among the advantages of electronic thermometers are theelimination of sterilization procedures for glass thermometers, madepossible by the use of disposable covers; elimination of the possibilityof broken glass if a thermometer is dropped; a digital temperaturedisplay to eliminate temperature reading errors; and with proper circuitdesign and calibration, higher accuracy and resolution is possible withaccurate measurement and display of tenths of a degree Fahrenheit beingeasily attainable.

Such electronic thermometers typically use a chemical battery as a powersupply. However, the electronic thermometers are generally idle for along time since patients only use the electronic thermometers while theyare sick or feel uncomfortable. Thus such electronic thermometersemploying a chemical battery as a power supply are not environmentallyfriendly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention overcomes theabove-described problems by providing a thermometer includes a bodymember and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to thebody member. A thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member isadapted for sensing a thermal contact surface and producing atemperature signal. A set of lead wires is coupled to the thermal sensorfor transmission of the temperature signal. A display module is disposedin the body member. An electric generator having a motor with a rotaryshaft is disposed in the body member. The motor is driven for generatingelectric energy when the rotary shaft is rotated. A capacitor iselectrically connected to the electric generator for storing theelectric energy generated by the electric generator and supplying theelectric energy to the processor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichlike references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a thermometer according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a thermometer with electric generatoraccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a thermometer isillustrated. The thermometer is made up of a body member 10 and a tipmember 11. Typically, body member includes a probe portion 12 and adisplay portion 15. Tip member 11 is secured to probe portion 12 of bodymember 10. Preferably, it contains a thermal contact surface surroundinga hollow cavity. In one embodiment, hollow tip member 11 is preferablymade of metal with good thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel.

A thermal sensor 51 is placed at the end of tip member 11 and mounted onthe inside of the thermal contact surface. Thermal sensor 51 senses thetemperature of the thermal contact surface and produces a temperaturesignal. There are a set of lead wires 52 and 54 coupled to thermalsensor 51 for transmission of the temperature signal.

As shown in FIG. 2, a display module 13 is disposed in display portion15 and connected to lead wires 52 and 54 to receive the temperaturesignal for display of a corresponding temperature reading. In oneexample, display portion 15 may comprise a base plate 30 with asubstrate 22 to support display module 13. A processor 76, such asintegrated circuit chip, is disposed on substrate 22 to be coupled todisplay module 13. Processor 76 is electrically connected to lead wires52 and 54 to receive the temperature signal; it drives display module 13to show a corresponding temperature reading. Typically, base plate 30 ismade from a plastic material and substrate 22 is a PCB board.

In one example, tip member 11 is made in the form of a tubular shape andclosed at a domed, hemispherical or hemiellipsoid shaped end. Thecontact surface is brought in contact with flesh of a patient so thatheat can be transferred from the patient's flesh to tip member 11. Inone embodiment, thermal sensor 51 is thermistor. Lead wires 52 and 54and thermistor 51 are both adhered on the inside of the thermal contactsurface with heat conductive glue. The glue is an insulating materialwith good thermal conductivity, e.g., epoxy resin. Moreover, lead wires52 and 54 are made up of a pair of electrical lead wires; they are usedto connect thermal sensor 51 to processor 76 for determining acorresponding temperature to display.

Adverting to FIG. 2, an electric power generator 80 is disposed in bodymember 10. Electric power generator 80 having a motor 85 with a rotaryshaft 85 a is employed to generate a current at output terminals thereofwhen rotary shaft 85 a is manually rotated in one direction by anexternal force. Specifically, the output terminals of motor areelectrically connected to a capacitor 74 through wires 70. In addition,motor 85 is driven for generating electric energy when rotary shaft 85 ais rotated. A capacitor 74 is electrically connected to electricgenerator 80 for storing the electric energy generated and supplying theelectric energy to processor 76.

In one embodiment, a mechanical part of electric generator 80 furthercomprises a handle 81 mounted into a surface of body member 10 and a setof gears 83 disposed on substrate 22 of base plate 30. The set of gears83 are detachably secured to handle 81 and coupled to drive rotary shaft85 a. For example, when handle 81 is rotated manually, the set of gears83 is rotated so that rotary shaft 85 a is rotated to drive motor 85 forgenerating the electric energy. In addition, the set of gears 83 maycomprise a handle gear 83 a detachably mounted on handle 81 coaxiallywith a rotation center of handle 81. A drive gear 83 b is meshed withhandle gear 83 a directly or through other gears 83 c so that therotation of handle gear 83 a is transmitted to drive gear 83 b. Thusrotary shaft 85 a meshed with drive gear 83 b is rotated.

Moreover, with reference to FIG. 1 thermometer 10 further comprises agroove 18 formed on the surface of body member as a container forstoring handle 81 in a non-used position.

An operation of this embodiment will be described.

When handle 81 is rotated in one direction manually, handle gear 83 a isrotated and hence drive gear 83 b meshed with handle gear 83 a isrotated. Since drive gear 83 b is meshed with or detachably secured torotary shaft 85 a, a rotor of motor 85 is driven by the rotation ofdrive gear 83 b, so that motor 85 is operated as a generator andelectric energy is generated. The thus generated electric energy issupplied through the set of wires 70 to capacitor 74 and stored therein.In one example, when handle 81 is designed to be only rotated in onedirection by an external force, rotary shaft 85 a is rotated in the samedirection and the D.C. electric energy is stored in capacitor 74.Consequently, a rectifier in the generator can be neglected.

Specifically, when motor 85 starts to rotate after this rotationaldriving, motor 85 is driven as the generator and the value of currentgenerated thereby increases quickly. Capacitor 74 is gradually chargedand the terminal voltage thereof increased gradually. That is, the D.C.electric energy generated by motor 85 working as the generator is storedin capacitor 74.

When the manual driving of handle 81 is stopped at a time instance fromthe start of the driving by letting the hand of the user off from handle81, the D.C. electric energy stored in capacitor 74 is supplied toprocessor 76 and the terminal voltage value is reduced gradually. Withstoppage of the driving of the motor 85, the D.C. electric energy storedin capacitor 74 was discharged completely.

Furthermore, a voltage switch 72 with a threshold voltage V0 may bedisposed on substrate 22 of base plate 30. In one example, voltageswitch 72 is electrically connected between capacitor 74 and processor76.

Also, processor 76 with a lower start voltage and a higher operationvoltage is electrically connected to both capacitor 74 to obtainelectric power and the set of lead wires 52 and 54 to receive thetemperature signal such that it can drive display module 13 for displayof a corresponding temperature reading. In one example, capacitor 74stores electrical energy by continuously rotating handle 81.consequently, voltage switch 72 turns on such that processor 76 isactuated to generate voice through a speaker to inform the user or drivedisplay module 13 to display a starting signal showing a status that thethermometer starts or performs a self-test, while the charged capacitorvoltage is increased to at least the start voltage of about 1.3V, nearlyequal to or slightly higher than the threshold voltage of the voltageswitch 72.

After that, Processor 76 is actuated to generate voice through a speakerto inform the user or drive display module 23 to display an operationsignal showing a status that the thermometer is ready to perform a bodytemperature measuring operation action, while the charged capacitorvoltage is further increased to at least the operation voltage V1 ofabout 1.5V, higher than the start voltage, which is enough to perform atleast one or two cycles of body temperature measuring operation.

When the manual driving of handle 81 is stopped at a time instance fromthe start of the driving by letting the hand of the user off therefrom,the D.C. electric energy stored in capacitor 74 is supplied to processor76 and the terminal voltage value is reduced gradually. With stoppage ofthe driving of motor 85, the D.C. electric energy stored in capacitor 74is discharged completely later. Further, voltage switch 72 then turnsoff while the terminal voltage value of capacitor 74 is reducedgradually to lower than threshold voltage V0.

In such thermometers, capacitor stores energy through the rotation ofthe handle by an external force for the processor to use on demand, soit can be used like a temporary battery to maintain power supply. Thus,there is no need to use a chemical battery which is easy to causeenvironmental pollution.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofthe preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it isintended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (aswould be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope ofthe appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so asto encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermometer comprising: a body member and a tipmember with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member; athermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member, adapted forsensing the thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal;a set of lead wires, coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission ofthe temperature signal; a display module, disposed in the body member; aprocessor, electrically connected to the set of lead wires to receivethe temperature signal, driving the display module for display of acorresponding temperature reading; an electric generator, disposed inthe body member, comprising a motor with a rotary shaft, wherein themotor is driven for generating electric energy when the rotary shaft isrotated; and a capacitor, electrically connected to the electricgenerator, storing the electric energy generated by the electricgenerator and supplying the electric energy to the processor.
 2. Thethermometer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a substrate,wherein the display module, the processor and the capacitor are disposedon the substrate.
 3. The thermometer as recited in claim 2 furthercomprising: a handle, mounted into a surface of the body member; and aset of gears, disposed in the body member, detachably secured to thehandle and coupled to drive the rotary shaft, wherein when the handle isrotated manually, the set of gears is rotated so that the rotary shaftis rotated to drive the motor for generating the electric energy.
 4. Thethermometer as recited in claim 3 wherein the set of gears comprises: ahandle gear, detachably mounted on the handle coaxially with a rotationcenter of the handle; and a drive gear, meshed with the handle gear andthe rotary shaft.
 5. The thermometer as recited in claim 4 wherein theset of gears is disposed on the substrate.
 6. The thermometer as recitedin claim 5, further comprising a groove formed on the surface of thebody member as a container for storing the handle in a non-usedposition.
 7. The thermometer as recited in claim 6, wherein when thehandle is manually rotated in one direction, the motor is driven forgenerating D.C. electric energy.
 8. A thermometer comprising: a bodymember and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to thebody member; a thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member,adapted for sensing the thermal contact surface and producing atemperature signal; a set of lead wires, coupled to the thermal sensorfor transmission of the temperature signal; a display module, disposedin the body member; a processor, electrically connected to the set oflead wires to receive the temperature signal, driving the display modulefor display of a corresponding temperature reading; an electricgenerator, disposed in the body member, comprising a motor with a rotaryshaft; a handle, mounted into a surface of the body member; a set ofgears, disposed in the body member, detachably secured to the handle andcoupled to drive the rotary shaft, wherein when the handle is rotatedmanually in one direction, the set of gears is rotated so that therotary shaft is rotated to drive the motor for generating D.C. electricenergy; and a capacitor, electrically connected to the electricgenerator, storing the D.C. electric energy generated by the electricgenerator and supplying the D.C. electric energy to the processor. 9.The thermometer as recited in claim 8 wherein the set of gearscomprises: a handle gear, detachably mounted on the handle coaxiallywith a rotation center of the handle; and a drive gear, meshed with thehandle gear and the rotary shaft.